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“We’re on a supply run. Trying to find antibiotics for one of our people. Mack mentioned there’re some resources here that haven’t been looted yet, so we were hoping...” I glance back down the road, but no sign of Jackson yet. “You don’t happen to know if there are any pharmacies around here where there might still be medication?”
“There’s an old Walmart a few miles that way,” Travis says, speaking for the very first time. He’s got a thick, pleasant mountain accent, and he gestures in the direction Jackson and I were headed. “Keep goin’ for a while, and you can’t miss it. It’s been picked over a bit, but y’all might be able to find somethin’ if you don’t mind diggin’ around.”
“We don’t mind. Thank you.”
“Are you sure Travis can’t help with the engine? He really is a good mechanic.”
“It’s just a belt. Jackson went to get one. There’s a store back there where he thought he might find one.”
“Do you need any other kind of medication? We don’t have antibiotics, but we’ve got Tylenol and aspirin and ibuprofen if you need any extra for your sick person.”
“I think we’re fine on that. Mack got us some extra Tylenol, and we found some ibuprofen recently. You keep what you have. Someone else might need it more.”
“Sure thing. So when did—” Layne’s conversational tone breaks off abruptly at exactly the same time Travis tenses and lowers one of his hands to a holster on his hip.
I raise my own pistol in the direction they’re looking, relieved when I see Jackson. He’s got his rifle aimed at the Jeep, and his expression is tight. Dangerous.
“It’s fine, Jackson. Don’t do anything stupid. They stopped to help.”
“We don’t need any help,” Jackson says in almost a growl. “Back the hell off. Right now.” He’s soaked with sweat. It’s dripping down his face and making his T-shirt nearly transparent. He clearly ran all the way back if his ragged breathing is any indication. He’s got a couple of things that look like drive belts hooked over one shoulder.
“I told you. They stopped to help. They’re friends of Mack. Part of that help network.”
Jackson doesn’t lower his rifle, but he looks a little less fierce. “Hell of a coincidence. Just happened to run into you?”
“We were just resettling some folks out this way. There’s hardly anyone else around here. Mack told you about this area, right? It’s not that big of a coincidence.” Layne’s voice is just as sweet and reassuring as it was with me. “We didn’t want to leave Faith all alone out here. Didn’t seem safe.”
“Faith can take care of herself.” He gives me a quick, searching look.
“It’s really fine, Jackson. You can pull in your quills.”
He does lower his rifle at last, but the look he gives the Jeep isn’t entirely friendly.
“We’ll take off if you want us to,” Travis says, “but I’d rather make sure you get your vehicle workin’ before we leave you stranded.”
That makes good sense to me, and even Jackson doesn’t object. He moves over to the ATV, pops the hood, and pulls the belts he found down his arm. I don’t actually know if he just got extra or if he got different sizes, but the first one he maneuvers into the engine evidently fits. He turns the ignition and drives it a few feet. It seems to work fine.
“Excellent!” Layne exclaims, clapping her hands like a little girl. “Now you’re good to go. I hope you can find antibiotics at that Walmart.”
At Jackson’s questioning look, I explain to him what they said about where to find the store.
“Thank you for your help,” I tell them with a smile. Jackson is standing right beside me, and it still feels like he’s bristling. It’s very distracting. “Really. I didn’t expect strangers to be so nice anymore.”
“Well, you’ve been nice to strangers too,” Layne says. “And don’t think it hasn’t been appreciated. Mack gave us some of your tomatoes. I hope you don’t mind. We have enough food, but we don’t have much in the way of fruit and vegetables. And Travis is always worried I’m not getting enough vitamins.” She flushes with pleasure. “I’m a few months pregnant.”
“Oh my goodness, I wish you the best.” I’m surprised she looks so happy. Pregnancy is such a risky endeavor these days. “Oh here.” I go to our storage compartment and pull out a big paper bag full of zucchini and tomatoes and squash and green peppers. We always take extra with us because it’s helpful for bartering. “Take these.”
Jackson makes a throaty sound of what’s probably disapproval, but he doesn’t openly object.
“Oh my Lord!” Layne gasps. “They look amazing, but we can’t take all that from you! We’re really in pretty good shape in terms of food.”
“But you’re pregnant. You need vitamins. Please take them. We’ve got more than enough this year. Seriously.” I press the bag on Travis, and he accepts it with a look of awed gratitude that makes my heart swell. “I like to help. So please take them.”
“Thank you so much,” Layne says, looking like she’s about to tear up. “They’ll be the biggest treat we’ve had in a long time.”
“I’m glad to help. And we’ll help more if you know of people who need it.”
“Well, if you’re serious, the people we just settled need some help with farming. They’re going to have to do gardens and want to keep animals, but there’s no one there who really knows much about it. They could sure use some training to get a head start.”
